Breakdown of Wij veranderen het volume na anderhalve minuut.
wij
we
de minuut
the minute
veranderen
to change
na
after (preposition)
Questions & Answers about Wij veranderen het volume na anderhalve minuut.
Why does the sentence use the singular minuut when the English translation says 'minutes'?
In Dutch, the quantifier anderhalf (one and a half) is always followed by a singular noun. Even though the amount is more than one, you must say anderhalve minuut, which translates literally to 'one and a half minute'.
Why is there an -e on the end of anderhalve?
You add an -e because minuut is a de-word (de minuut). When the word for 'one and a half' comes before a de-word, it takes the inflected form anderhalve. If it were modifying a het-word, it would drop the -e, for example: anderhalf jaar (one and a half years).
Does veranderen work for any kind of 'change'?
No, veranderen specifically means to alter or modify a state or condition, like turning the volume up, altering a plan, or a person changing over time. If you mean exchanging one thing for another, you use wisselen (like changing money), and for changing clothes you use zich omkleden.
I remember 'after' pushing verbs to the end of the sentence. Why doesn't that happen here with na?